The best beard for long face shapes is full on the cheeks and short at the chin. Width on the sides balances the length of the face, while extra hair under the chin makes it look even longer.
This guide gives you three rules, six beard styles that follow them, a weekly trimming routine and the styles to skip.
In this guide
Quick answer: does a beard suit a long face?
Yes. A short, full beard suits a long face well because it widens the lower half of the face. Keep the sides slightly longer than the chin and trim the bottom edge flat. Avoid long goatees and pointed beards.
The 3 rules of a beard for long face shapes
Every good beard on a long face is full on the cheeks, short at the chin and square along the bottom.
- Full on the cheeks. Let the sides grow a few millimetres longer than the chin. This is where the width comes from.
- Short at the chin. Keep the hair under the chin to about half an inch or less. Anything longer extends the face.
- Square bottom line. A flat edge makes the jaw look wider. A pointed or rounded edge pulls the eye down.
These are the same principles barbers use for the haircut: add width, limit length. The London School of Barbering face shape guide explains the face shape approach in more detail.
6 best beard styles for a long face
These six styles all add width without adding length. The first two are the easiest to grow and maintain.
| Beard style | Length | Why it works | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy stubble | 3 to 5 mm | Adds shadow and width with no length at the chin | Trim twice a week |
| Short boxed beard | 8 to 12 mm | Clean square lines widen the jaw | Trim weekly |
| Full beard with a short chin | 15 mm sides, 10 mm chin | Most width of any style | Trim weekly |
| Mutton chops with stubble | 10 mm sides | Puts all the bulk on the cheeks | Shape weekly |
| Chin strap with stubble | 4 to 6 mm | Outlines the jaw without dropping below it | Edge every 3 days |
| Moustache with stubble | 3 to 5 mm | A horizontal line across the face breaks its length | Trim twice a week |
If your beard is patchy
Choose heavy stubble or a moustache with stubble. Short lengths hide gaps on the cheeks, and a moustache gives a strong horizontal line even when the sides are thin.
If your beard grows thick
Choose the short boxed beard or the full beard with a short chin. Thick growth gives you the most width, but it also grows down quickly, so the chin needs a trim every week.
How to trim a beard for a long face
Use a longer guard on the cheeks than on the chin, then cut the bottom edge flat. Do this once a week on dry hair.
- Comb the beard down and out so every hair sits at its full length.
- Trim the cheeks and sideburn area with the longer guard, for example 12 mm.
- Switch one guard shorter, for example 9 mm, and trim the chin and under the jaw.
- Cut the bottom edge in a flat line about a finger width above the Adam’s apple.
- Tidy the cheek line by removing only the stray hairs above it.
Keep the cheek line natural and fairly high. Carving it low takes away the width you are trying to build.
Beard styles to avoid with a long face
Avoid any style that puts more hair below the chin than on the cheeks.
- Long goatee. It adds length exactly where the face is already long.
- Ducktail or pointed beard. The point pulls the eye downward.
- Chin-only beard with shaved cheeks. It narrows the face and lengthens it at once.
- Long, untrimmed full beard. Past about an inch at the chin, it works against you.
- Low, carved cheek lines. They remove side width.
Match the beard to your haircut
A beard and a haircut should follow the same rule: wide and low. Pair a short boxed beard or stubble with a textured crop or side part and a low fade.
Ask your barber to blend the sideburns into the beard instead of leaving a hard line. A smooth blend keeps the side of the face looking full. If you are deciding on a fade, our guide to the high taper fade shows how each fade height changes the shape of the head.
Very short hair needs more beard. With a buzz cut there is no hair to add width on top, so a full, short beard does that job. See our 6 guard buzz cut guide for the lengths that pair well with it.
For the haircut side, our guide to hair for long face men lists 12 cuts with a barber script for each.
Is it better to be clean-shaven with a long face?
Not usually. A clean shave shows the full length of the face from hairline to chin. Even light stubble adds shadow along the jaw and makes the lower face look wider.
If you prefer to stay clean-shaven, let the haircut do the work: wear a fringe, keep the sides fuller and avoid height on top.
How to grow a beard that suits a long face
Grow everything for three to four weeks before you shape anything. Trimming too early is the most common mistake, because the cheeks grow more slowly than the chin and need time to fill in.
- Weeks 1 to 2. Leave it alone. Only clean up the neck below the Adam’s apple. The itch at this stage passes in a few days; a little beard oil or plain moisturiser helps.
- Weeks 3 to 4. The chin will already be longer than the cheeks. Trim only the chin and the area under the jaw, one guard shorter, so the sides can catch up.
- Week 5 onward. Set the bottom line and tidy the cheek line. From here, a weekly trim keeps the shape.
Brush the beard outward on the cheeks each morning. Hair trains in the direction it is brushed, and after a couple of weeks the sides will sit wider on their own. Brushing straight down does the opposite and makes the beard hang.
Wash the beard two or three times a week with a mild shampoo and dry it fully. A damp beard lies flat against the face and looks thinner on the sides. If the hair is coarse, a few drops of oil after drying keep it soft enough to shape.
If the cheeks stay thin after six weeks, do not keep growing the chin to make up for it. Drop back to heavy stubble at one even length, or add a moustache. Both give a fuller look than a patchy beard with a long chin, and both keep the face from looking longer.
Grey or light-coloured hair shows less on the cheeks, so the sides can look thinner than they are. Keeping the whole beard a little shorter and the edges sharp makes the outline clearer, which is what gives the jaw its width.
FAQs
What is the best beard for long face shapes?
The best beard for long face shapes is a short boxed beard or heavy stubble. Both are fuller on the cheeks than on the chin, which adds width and keeps the face from looking longer.
Does a beard make a long face look longer?
Only if it is long at the chin. A goatee or pointed beard adds length. A short beard that is fuller on the sides makes the face look wider and shorter.
How long should a beard be on a long face?
Keep the chin at about half an inch (12 mm) or less and the cheeks slightly longer. Past about an inch at the chin, the beard starts to lengthen the face.
Is a goatee good for a long face?
No. A goatee puts hair only at the chin, which adds length and no width. Stubble or a short full beard is a better choice.
Does a moustache suit a long face?
Yes. A moustache creates a horizontal line across the middle of the face, which breaks up its length. It works best with light stubble.
Final word
The right beard for long face shapes is short, full on the cheeks and flat along the bottom. Start with heavy stubble or a short boxed beard, trim the chin one guard shorter than the sides and keep the cheek line high.
Next step: pair it with the right cut from our guide to hair for long face men.
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